Within the season of Advent is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, a favorite date for First Holy Communion in Catholic schools (as mine was, many decades ago). It is also a chosen date for many priestly ordinations (as it is for five Claretian priests who celebrate their 5th priestly ordination today). It is also the only time in Advent (except for the Simbanggabi Masses) when the Gloria is sung. It will only be years later when I would appreciate the significance of the Solemnity and this, during Advent.
At the Mass I participated in this morning (yes, it is a Holy Day of obligation for Catholics), livestreamed from another Diocese because for some reason or another, I couldn’t get into the link of the Diocese I belong to which is named after the Immaculate Conception, the priest-celebrant gave an acronym (a practical way many priests use) to remember the homily: STOP. Silence, in order to hear what is said, Think, in order to ponder on what is said, Obey, in order to follow what is said (that is, when one has, in all freedom, said “Yes”), and Pray, in order to be faithful to what has been said, pondered upon, obeyed and followed. This, for me, captures the essence of the season as well as the feast.
In the story of the Anunciation, which is the Gospel Reading for today (Lk 1:26-38), we see Mary listening in silence, pondering (“greatly troubled and pondered what sort of greeting this might be”), on what the angel Gabriel said, obeying after listening to the angel, and giving her “Yes” (“may it be done to me according to your word”), and continuing to pray, still in silence…
Many, many years ago, before the changes in liturgy brought about by the 2nd Vatican Council’s Sacrosanctum Concilium, Advent was as solemn a season as Lent – the longer season before Easter. As a young church musician then I had to remember many things, most of all, not to play/sing the Gloria during the 4 Advent Sundays (although it was allowed during Simbanggabi Masses), as well as to choose songs whose lyrics dealt with sorrow for sins, forgiveness, reconciliation. And to maintain the atmosphere of silence, prayerfulness, and solemnity.
But when the changes were implemented, there came a gradual lightening up – no longer as solemn and sorrowful, a change I welcomed intuitively (although I still miss the silence, for today there’s much more noise).
After all, Advent by its very name means “coming” so the essence should be one of joyful anticipation. And thus, I have always welcomed the Feast of the Immaculate Conception for during this day, especially when there are ordinations, joy abounds – in the liturgy, in music and song, and in celebration, anticipating the One Who is to come again (and remembering when He came, more than two thousand years ago).
Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary!
